Display card holder



y 1934- AIM. SICK 1,959,067 I DISPLAY CARD HOLDER I Filed Jan. 30, 1955 &

WWI/WW Patented May 15, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention appertains to display card holders and more particularly to a novel means for constructing a frame for receiving and supporting a card, sign or the like in such a manner that substantially the entire area of both faces of the card will be exposed to the view of observers.

Many attempts have been made to produce a satisfactory holder or frame for signs, show-cards and the like of the type used in drug stores and other merchandising houses, but as yet, as far as I am aware, a frame answering all the desired requirements has not been produced. The frame which is now in general use consists of marginal pieces having front and back strips with one of the pieces provided with a slot to permit the sliding of the card to and from exhibiting posi tion. The side pieces hide a material portion of the margin of the card and the holder or frame itself is costly to manufacture, and cards of irregular shapes cannot be accommodated.

It has been proposed to provide a resilient frame having a continuous inner groove and to spring the frame about the card. This type of holder was not accepted by the trade as irregularly shaped cards could not be associated therewith and the frame created an undesirable tension on the card, and the card did not fit properly in the groove. the springing of the frame in that diificulty was encountered in placing the card in position.

It is therefore one of the salient objects of my invention to produce a rigid open frame formed of relatively thin material and having associated therewith at spaced points, ears, clips or the like for engaging the opposite faces of the card for holding the same in position, the card being adapted to be sprung in position in said frame between the ears, clips or the like, the frame itself engaging the marginal edges of the card only, so that the entire surface of the card will be exhibited.

Another object of my invention is to produce a card holder or frame which will form an efficient support for the card irrespective of its shape and in which the mere flexing of a card itself is all that is necessary to place the card into and out of exhibiting position.

A further object of my invention is to provide a rigid frame of any desired outline having struck or punched out therefrom pairs of spaced, inwardly directed ears, the card being placed in the frame by flexing or springing the same between the ears.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a holder or frame of the above character An objection was raised to which will be durable and efficient in use, one that will be simple and easy to manufacture, and one which can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation illustrating one form of my improved frame.

Figure 2 is a detailed section through the frame taken on the line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating the novel formation of the struck-out ears.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the formation of my frame for receiving an irregularly shaped card. j

Figure 4 is a detail section through a modified form of frame and illustrating the use of resilient clips for supporting the card in lieu of the struck-out ears.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A generally indicated one form of my invention, which as shown, embodies a marginal strip 5 preferably formed from a single length of material. This strip 5 is folded or bent to form a top piece 6, side pieces '7, and a bottom piece 8. The ends of the strip 5 preferably meet at the central portion of the bottom piece 8 and are bent downwardly at right angles in abutting relation to form a standard 9.

This standard 9 can be'anchored, in any preferred way, in a supporting piece (not shown). The portions of the strip forming the standard 9 are preferably spot welded together so as to form a frame of rigid construction.

While I have illustrated and described the frame provided with a standard 9 for association with a base, so that the frame can be used for counter purposes, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the use of a standard with a frame, as obviously the frame can be suspended by the use of hooks or eyes from an overhead support or connected to a wall or post by the use of supporting brackets, suction cups or the like.

One of the salient features of my invention is the provision of novel means for forming the pieces 6, '7, and 8, whereby a card, indicated by the reference character C, can be quickly and detachably associated with the frame.

By referring to Figures 1 and 2 it will be seen that the pieces 6, 7, and 8 are provided at spaced points with pairs of inwardly struck-out ears or clips 10. It is to be noted that the pairs of ears 10 formed on the top piece 6 are disposed inwardly of the pairs of ears 10 formed on the bottom piece 8, and that the pairs of ears on the side piece '7 are located one above the other.

While these pairs of cars can be formed in any desired manner and the material from which the frame is formed is preferably slit as at 11 on each side of the longitudinal axis of the said pieces 6, '7, and 8, and the material lying on opposite sides of the slits 11 are then struck inwardly. This provides a smooth uninterrupted face around the entire inner surface of the pieces for engaging the marginal edge of the card, and

the cars 10 engage the opposite faces of the card.

Obviously, it is merely necessary to flex or spring the card into position between the pairs of ears and the ears will effectively hold the card against displacement and allow the entire area of the card to be exhibited.

In actual use the frame is so inconspicuous that the card itself seems to be suspended in the air without support.

As heretofore intimated, one of the salient features of my invention is to provide a frame that can be so formed that irregularly shaped cards of any character can be exhibited. In this instance, the frame is bent to conform to the exact outline of the card. In Figure 3 such a frame is shown for exhibiting a card conforming to the outline of a mans head. This frame is indicated by the reference character D, and it will be noted that ears are provided at spaced points around the frame for engaging the card. Obviously, the card can be readily flexed or sprung into the frame between the ears.

While it is preferable and desirable to construct the frame from relatively thin, flat material, obviously round stock can be used and clips can be associated with the frame in lieu of struckout ears.

In Figure 4 of the drawing, a frame 15 is provided constructed from round stock and a resilient clip 16 is secured at its central portion to the frame by spot welding or the like. The clip 16 can be of a substantially U-shape with its legs 17 projected inwardly toward one another over the inner face of the frame. Obviously, the card is adapted to be sprung in between the legs of the clips. In order to prevent marring of the card, the terminals of the legs can be bent back to provide guide-arm portions 18.

From the foregoing description it can be seen that I have provided a show-card holder of exceptionally simple and durable construction and one in which it is merely necessary to flex the card to associate the same with the frame.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention, but what I claim as new is:

l. A frame. for supporting show-cards comprising an open body including a continuous marginal strip shaped to conform to the outline of a card which is to be associated therewith, the strip at spaced points being provided with pairs of slits on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the strip, and ears struck inwardly from the strip between the slits and the adjacent edges of the strip.

2. A frame for supporting show-cards comprising an open body including a continuous marginal strip shaped to conform to the outline of a 

